Pony Express Good Friday Ride

March 28, 2013

Pony Express Riders of Iowa will blanket the state on Good Friday as they ride and collect donations to assist Iowans with disabilities. Palo Alto County Pony Express riders join in that effort.

For 46 years the Pony Express Riders of Iowa have dedicated their efforts to providing greater opportunities for Iowans with disabilities. Each dollar raised by the Pony Express riders is directed toward the goal of helping Iowans with disabilities achieve maximum independence. Funds will benefit Easter Seals programs that assist people with disabilities.

Dakota Johnson, Vince Lammers and Diana and Pat Conroy represented Northwest Iowa when Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation at the State Capitol. The governor proclaimed the month of March as Pony Express Ride Days in Iowa. He encouraged citizens to support and give freely to the Pony Express riders in their task of trying to help and heal humanity.

Article Photos

PALO ALTO COUNTY PONY EXPRESS riders gathered in full force in Emmetsburg this month to plan for the Good Friday Ride. Angie Allen and Dakota Johnson carried the flags in the St. Pat’s Parade, leading the group of riders. Palo Alto County residents are encouraged to give support to Pony Express as they ride throughout the county on Good Friday to accept donations that will help provide greater opportunities for Iowans with disabilities. --Jane Whitmore photos

"The Good Friday ride in Palo Alto County will follow what we have done in past years," said Dakota Johnson of Emmetsburg.

The first group of Palo Alto County riders will leave from Mallard at 7:30 a.m. Friday, March 29. Tim Allen is heading up the group that will travel from Mallard to Jefferson. They will have 24 head of horses, enough to ride a fresh horse every mile.

The second group will leave Mallard at 8 a.m. Friday. They will go to Curlew and meet the group in Ayrshire before heading to Ruthven to collect donations. The group will leave there at 10:30 a.m. and ride to Emmetsburg.

The Graettinger group will gather at 8:30 a.m. They will ride from Graettinger to Emmetsburg, meeting the rest of the group at 12 noon.

The group from West Bend will gather at 9 a.m. They will meet the rest of the Palo Alto County group at Whittemore at 3 p.m.

Palo Alto County Pony Express will ride into Emmetsburg at 12 noon Friday. They will gather in the Courthouse Square area to visit with people, answer questions and to accept donations for Camp Sunnyside.

From Emmetsburg, the riders will travel to Cylinder. The county ride will end in Whittemore.

"We appreciate our residents' generosity again this year," said Vince Lammers of Emmetsburg. "We look forward to seeing everyone again this Friday."

While at the Courthouse Square, Pony Express riders will be selling tickets for a John Deere XUV 550. Raffle tickets are available from Pony Express riders through Good Friday or contact Vince Lammers. The drawing will be held March 30.

This Easter weekend will mark the 46th Annual Pony Express Ride to Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside. Riders in all four sections of the state start their journey to Camp Sunnyside on Good Friday.

Riders will continue their trek on Saturday, stopping to gather at the John Deere Works in Ankeny to assemble riders from 11 major rides to "parade" into Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside at approximately 3 p.m. to deliver the funds they have worked all year to raise. These proceeds will help to fund Easter Seals programs that serve Iowans with disabilities.

Tim Allen of Whittemore serves as the Northwest Region VP on the Pony Express Riders of Iowa Board of Directors. Paxton Reese of Mallard serves as a Northwest Iowa board member.